SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Pineville, Mo., couple has been charged in federal court docket for his or her roles within the kidnapping and homicide of a pregnant Arkansas girl.
Amber Waterman, 42, and her husband, Jamie Waterman, 42, had been charged in separate legal complaints signed on Thursday, Nov. 3, and filed within the U.S. District Court docket in Springfield right now. The Watermans stay in federal custody pending detention hearings, which haven’t but been scheduled.
Amber Waterman is charged with one depend of kidnapping leading to demise. The federal legal criticism alleges that, between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, 2022, Amber Waterman kidnapped Ashley Bush, who was roughly 31 weeks pregnant, with a view to declare her unborn baby as her personal. She allegedly transported Ashley Bush from Maysville, Arkansas, to Pineville, leading to her demise.
Jamie Waterman is charged with one depend of being an adjunct after the actual fact to kidnapping leading to demise. The federal legal criticism alleges that he assisted Amber Waterman, with a view to hinder and forestall her apprehension, trial, and punishment, understanding she had dedicated the offense of kidnapping leading to demise.
In keeping with an affidavit filed in assist of the federal legal complaints, Amber Waterman adopted the false on-line persona of “Lucy” with a view to meet Ashley Bush, then lured her to fulfill a second time to present her a experience to a purported job interview. As a substitute, the affidavit says, Amber Waterman killed Ashley Bush.
Amber Waterman allegedly led Jamie Waterman to the physique of Ashley Bush, who was clothed and mendacity face down subsequent to a ship close to their home, coated in a blue tarp. Amber Waterman eliminated a hoop from Ashley Bush’s finger and rolled her physique onto the blue tarp, the affidavit says, which Jamie Waterman then dragged to a hearth pit behind the residence. The Waterman’s allegedly burned the physique, moved it onto the mattress of Jamie Waterman’s blue GMC pickup, and drove a brief distance from their residence to cover the physique.
Ashley Bush was reported as a lacking particular person on Monday, Oct. 31. Her fiancé informed regulation enforcement that he noticed her being pushed as a passenger in a pickup truck by a lady he knew as “Lucy.” That they had initially met “Lucy” on the Gravette, Ark., public library just a few days earlier, at which era “Lucy” was driving the identical pickup truck. Throughout this assembly on the library, “Lucy” and Ashley Bush had mentioned employment alternatives, and later that day, “Lucy” supplied to drive her to fulfill her supervisor at a Bentonville, Ark., firm.
On Oct. 31, Ashley Bush’s fiancé drove her to fulfill “Lucy” at a Handi-Cease comfort retailer in Maysville, Ark. He later obtained a message to select her up on the identical Handi-Cease retailer, however whereas he was ready for her to reach, he noticed “Lucy” and Ashley Bush drive previous with out stopping. He tried to contact Ashley Bush by cellphone, however his calls went to voice mail. He later discovered her cellphone on the aspect of the freeway.
Detectives with the Benton County, Ark., Sheriff’s Division examined the cellphone and located the Fb account for “Lucy.” Detectives situated a public posting on the account that learn “I’ve a bunch of child objects if any mothers to be want them.” Detectives traced the Fb account to Jamie Waterman, and realized from analyzing Amber Bush’s Google information that she had traveled to Pineville, roughly .15 miles from the Watermans’ residence.
When investigators questioned the Watermans on Tuesday, Nov. 1, they had been initially informed that Amber had a miscarriage. Detectives observed what gave the impression to be blood stains on the within of a pickup truck that matched the outline of the automobile given by Ashley Bush’s fiancé. The automobile was seized by regulation enforcement and search warrants obtained on Thursday, Nov. 3, for the automobile and residence.
Detectives questioned Jamie Waterman once more on Thursday, Nov. 3. In keeping with the affidavit, he informed detectives that, after they’d questioned them and left their residence, Amber Waterman informed him she had killed Ashley Bush after which shortly modified her story and stated “Lucy” had killed her. She then led him to the physique, which he assisted in disposing.
The costs contained in these complaints are merely accusations, and never proof of guilt. Proof supporting the costs have to be offered to a federal trial jury, whose obligation is to find out guilt or innocence.
These instances are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie L. Wan and James J. Kelleher. They had been investigated by the FBI, the Benton County, Ark., Sheriff’s Division, and the McDonald County, Mo., Sheriff’s Division along with the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace within the Western District of Arkansas and the Benton County, Ark., Prosecuting Legal professional’s Workplace.
Court docket Paperwork: